47 Best Restaurants in Quebec City, Quebec

Seafood lovers, rejoice: Québec City now has its very own ocean-based restaurant, and a great one at that. Helmed by a team of seasoned chefs, this gourmet restaurant provides diners with flavorful, flawless, and generously sized dishes of anything from scallops to clams and marlin tatakis, all nicely complemented by delicate side dishes such as lentils, sorbet (yes, ice cream for dinner!), and edible flowers. It is a light-filled, beautifully appointed venue.

Chef Guillaume Saint-Pierre's love for authentic Italian cuisine led him to open this popular 25-seat restaurant, located off the main Saint-Roch thoroughfares, where he can fully concentrate on that passion with gusto and skill. Italian tradition (there's arancini and vitello tonatto) blend with local flair (there's cacio e pepe with Swiss chard, and scallop crudo). The restaurant has been a huge hit, which means you should reserve weeks in advance, especially on weekends.

Expect the usual crowd of students, freelancers, and others toting laptops at this third-wave café that has thoughtfully selected beans roasted on-site. Even so, the contemporary, all-white café is a welcome respite from the cold in wintertime—and the doughnuts alone are worth a visit.

Chefs Jean-Luc Boulay and Arnaud Marchand, who are both revered in this town, delight patrons with elegant interpretations of cuisine inspired by northern Québec and made entirely from local ingredients, including reinvented classic desserts, such as iced nougat with cloudberries. A mix of locals celebrating special occasions and tourists fresh from shopping rue St-Jean dine in this elegant dining room on bison tartare, braised beef ravioli with candied red cabbage, and salmon in a flavorful cranberry glaze. The somber color scheme, rustic-meets-modern graphics, and dark wood trim make this one of the more sophisticated bistros in the neighborhood.

This is the place to go for the freshest flavors of Canadian cuisine (think seafood, terroir vegetables, game meat) without the white tablecloth fuss. Chez Rioux & Pettigrew is a casual dining experience in a convivial, inviting venue with exposed brick. Back in 1860, Narcisse Rioux ran a general store here and supplied local restaurants, inns, and hospitals; it only makes sense that the gourmet mission carries on today (complete with trinkets from that former life) in a slightly more hands-on manner. For a bit of everything, opt for their five-service tasting menu, with the wine pairing for an extra C$45. Speaking of their modest yet curated wine list, aficionados will find an interesting selection of orange/maceration wines.

A mix of businesspeople and tourists having been frequenting L'Échaudé for the past 30 years because of its location between the nearby business and antiques districts. For lunch, the flank steak with shallots is a classic, and every day there's excellent fish, tartares, and pasta on the menu. Highlights of the three-course brunch are eggs Benedict and tantalizing desserts. The mahogany lobby and green-and-beige interior are full of warmth, and service is courteous and professional. The interior is modern, with hardwood floors, a mirrored wall, and a stainless-steel bar with backlit river stones underneath; but you'll be lucky to snag a table outside in the warmer months.

La Boîte à Pain makes it a point of honor to serve fresh products prepared on site every day. In a convivial atmosphere, this European-inspired bakery has been making gourmet and artisanal products for more than 20 years. Breads, pizzas, sandwiches, pastries, and cakes are displayed on the large counter and are nothing short of convincing, if not plainly irresistible.

Local and regional products are emphasized here, and the food is among the best gastronomical offerings in Québec. Among local celebrity chef Daniel Vézina's creations are crystallized foie gras with truffle snow, and venison tartare. The menu consists of two prix-fixe, five-services experiences; either the "personalized" at C$110 or the "gastronomic" at C$145, both served with remarkable wine pairings (largely private imports) as an option.

Inside the most romantic dining room at Fairmont Château Frontenac, chef Hugo Coudurier has made this one of the city's top gastronomical tables, showcasing unexpected combinations, delicious flavors, Nordic-inspired ingredients (such as wild hare and even Lapland reindeer), and whimsical presentations. Although service can be a bit stiff, the food is anything but, and the rewards on the plate are definitely worth any formality. Reservations are highly recommended. The Sunday brunch is a must, with tons of delicious small bites and more classic offerings.

The high ceilings and imposing vault door give away the fact that this was once a bank, but an amiable staff and inventive bistro cuisine (without pretentious fluff) make this establishment a local favorite who munch on well-prepared shareable plates of seasonal, creative, flavorful shareable plates like smoked aubergine with romesco sauce or veal tartare with lemon and fiddleheads. Wine lovers, this restaurant recently hired the best sommelier in Québec City.

Specializing in Neapolitan-style pizza and antipasti, this stylish pizzeria has been on everyone's lips ever since it opened (thanks to crowdfunding!). Its beast of an oven weighs 2.5 tons and was imported straight from Italy—and it's worth it: the thin-crust pizzas are cooked in just 90 seconds at 900 degrees. Expect sides of flavorful salads, creamy burrata, charcuteries, and cheeses. Also note the excellent cocktail list. If you prefer to eat in the St-Jean-Baptiste neighborhood, Nina recently opened a second location there.

It's worth heading to the outskirts of the St-Roch Downtown district for this unique dining experience, inspired by the French bouchons (as bistros are called in the city of Lyon). "In the pig, everything is good": so goes the French adage that advocates responsible, farm-to-table gastronomy. This is precisely what drives Pied Bleu: every week, the chefs receive a whole pig and come up with proven, creative ways to serve it (the charcuterie plate is a must). Also offered is Le tour lyonnais, a tasting menu for two including six courses, salads, cheeses, and desserts. While there are a few vegetarian options, this is primarily a place of communion for hardened carnivores; they've actually won prizes all over France for their excellent boudin (blood sausage). The wine list is largely European, but reserves a special place for Beaujolais vineyards.  The brunch menu is equally gargantuan and tasty, with a dreamy smoked-fish sandwich and a large rib steak with béarnaise sauce for big appetites.

Sun-drenched, open-space corner bistro, complete with black and dark wood accents for a profoundly Parisian flair, serves local fare in a relaxed yet refined atmosphere. From game meat to seafood (try the gin sauce scallops), from fresh pasta to revisited classics (try the Brussel sprouts Ceasal), along with a string of vegan options, Alphonse certainly aims to please. Their cocktail menu is an absolute must, and their wine list features some of the strongest winemakers in Québec.

The trek to Limoilou is worth it, if it's to dine at ARVI. Local critics have deemed ARVI an unforgettable gourmet experience, and it was selected as one of Canada's 35 top restaurants by Air Canada's in-flight magazine. The restaurant's signature open-plan kitchen right smack in the middle of the tastefully designed space guarantees diners unobstructed views of the chef at work. Food-wise, the prix-fixe tasting menu is a steal at just C$88; expect seasonal fare inspired by local terroir.  If you're into wine, fork out the extra C$55 for the wine pairings.

Named for a 19th-century book by Philippe-Aubert de Gaspé, who once resided in the 1675 house, this establishment has a modern menu and a good wine list, but most people come for the authentic French-Canadian cooking. Servers are dressed in period costume and each of the five dining rooms has a different theme, such as the bright and cheerful vaisselier (dish room), featuring colorful antique dishes and a fireplace. One of the best deals is a three-course meal, starting at C$19.95, available until 5:45 every day.

Behind the success of city hot spot Chez Muffy (formerly Panache), Chef François Blais decided on a more casual approach, including having a simple interior, when he opened his own restaurant on avenue Cartier. The "market cuisine" is straight to the point and well executed, and the whole menu fits on a blackboard, with a handful of appetizers, main courses, and desserts that change daily.

One hundred percent organic—that is the promise of L'Orygine, a brand-new bistro in the heart of the Lower Town. With an emphasis on freshness and local flavors, the chef prepares seasonal and shareable plates that are (almost) guilt-free, such as lobster cavatelli and a creative mix of duck and eggplant. The space is beautiful, with an all-glass wine cellar and turquoise seats.

For a respite from the shoppers on rue du Petit-Champlain, grab an outdoor table at Le Pape-Georges and cool off with a drink and creamy, tangy local cheeses and fruit. This stone-and-wood wine bar, the first of its kind in Québec City when it opened almost 35 years ago, is also nice indoors; there's music on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights.

Hearty home cooking, generous portions, and rock-bottom prices have made this no-frills, diner-style eatery in the heart of the antiques district, a Lower Town institution. It's a good place to sample traditional Québécois dishes such as pea soup and cipaille (a deep-dish layered pie using poultry, meat, or seafood), and the homemade and delicious sugar pie, crepes, and other desserts. In summer, there is a small sidewalk terrace where you can sit and watch the shoppers stroll by.

La Buvette Scott is an unpretentious address that pleasantly surprises with its attractive menu and impeccable service. Located in the heart of St-Jean-Baptiste, it's quickly been adopted by locals who have made this place their favorite neighborhood hangout. The warm wooden décor creates a friendly, almost family-like atmosphere. Waiters have complete control over the music and are more than happy to accept suggestions and blast that one-hit-wonder on the record player. Food-wise, La Buvette Scott offers a dozen small and medium-sized seasonal dishes mainly consisting of seasonal vegetables and seafood.

One of the newer additions to the St-Jean-Baptiste neighborhood, Cantook is a micro-roaster that is more traditional than trendy, but no less excellent. Visit for a cappuccino, a good conversation with the owner, maybe even both.

This casual and attractive café right on the corner of scenic Place Royale is a great place to stop for an afternoon pick-me-up, be it coffee or various indulgent sweets. For a light lunch, there are yummy sandwiches, quiches, and soups. There are other branches elsewhere in the city that are just as good, just not as scenic.  On sunny days, make sure to enjoy the sun-drenched patio.

Owned by Yves Simard and his wife, Rebecca, this bakery, pastry counter, sandwich bar, pizza shop (summer only), and ice-cream parlor is known for its selection of nouvelle French pastries, whole grain breads, gourmet sandwiches, and artisanal gelato. Long wooden tables, designed to get customers talking to each other, create a convivial atmosphere.

This simple, busy café-style restaurant serves crepes in generous proportions with a variety of options---from a menu of more than 20 fillings, pick your own chocolate or fruit combinations or design a larger meal with cheese, ham, and vegetables. Tables surround four round griddles at which you watch your creations being made. Crepes made with two to five fillings cost less than C$12.

As far as fast food goes, nothing is more Québécois than poutine, that rough-and-ready dish made of fries, cheese curds, and gravy. In Québec City, this regional chain, founded in 1969, is the local favorite for hurried lunchers and late-night snackers. Also well worth trying here is a hot-dog du lac, a "steamie" (steamed hot dog) with mayo, cabbage, and a few fries on top.

At this restaurant, inside the museum-like Auberge Saint-Antoine, dishes change with the seasons, but fresh, locally sourced ingredients are at the core of the classic prix-fixe (C$85 per person) menu. The space has stone walls, attractive wooden floors, and exposed beams from the building's warehouse days, in the early 1800s. The wine list draws from a 12,000-bottle cellar, with well-chosen cuvées coming from all over the world.

This cozy burger joint with brick-and-stone walls has a wide range of topping combinations, daily special burgers, and French fries are served with a dollop of homemade mayonnaise (there are five varieties available) and poppy seeds. Salads, sandwiches, and a daily dessert made fresh by the pastry chef are also available. This original location was so successful that it spawned several other branches, notably in the Vieux-Port area of the Lower Town.

Spectacular views of the whole city are not the only reason to climb up to this rotating restaurant with unobstructed, panoramic views. The service here is friendly and well-managed, and the food is unfussy, creative, and delicious—try the roasted Arctic char with lemon gnocchi and shiitakes or something from the solid brunch menu (on weekends).

Small dishes served in the purest tradition of izakayas (Japanese taverns) in a venue that's flooded with light and minimally decorated with birch and green plants. On the menu, just classics: yakotori (mini skewers), sashimi, okonomiyaki, and dumplings, as well as a tataki that changes daily. The cocktails are as pretty as they are tasty (case in point with the Japanese Eyeball), but the real star here is the list of imported sake. If it's particularly cold outside, why not try your luck at Ramen Honō next door for a comforting soup.

Steak frites (steak with fries) is on menus everywhere in Québec City and in lots of other places throughout the world, but this popular and lively establishment has a 30-year reputation as the master of the dish—L'entrecôte is a particular sirloin cut, usually long and relatively thin. Diners at this red-and-blue-trimmed house choose between three steak sizes, and each comes smothered in the restaurant's signature peppery sauce with a heaping pile of crispy fries. Other French fare graces the menu, such as tender duck confit and smoked salmon salads. For C$35 and up, depending on the size of the steak, the table d'hôte (prix fixe) is a good value. It ends with decadent chocolate profiteroles, proving that this restaurant is more than just beef.